大学英语四级考试15选10专项训练Unit OneDirections:In this passage there are ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choicesgiven in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choicein the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single linethrough the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions I to 10 are based on the following passage.Looking back on years of living in a working-class home in the North of England,I should say that a good living roommust 11 three principal things:homeliness,warmth and plenty of good food.The living-room is the warm heart of thefamily and 12 often slightly stuffy to a middle-class visitor.It is not a social centre but a family center;little entertaininggoes on there or in the front room,if there 13 to be one;you do not entertain in anything approaching the middle-class 14The wife's social life outside her 15 family is found over the washing-line,at the little shop on the comer,visiting relativesat a moderate 16 occasionally,and perhaps now and again a visit with her husband to his pub or club.Apart from these twoplaces,he has just his work and his football matches.They will have,each of them,friends at all these places,who maywell not know what the inside of their house is like,having never"stepped across the threshold,"as the old 17 phrase has it.The family hearth is 18 for the family itself,and those who are "something to us"(another favorite formula)and who look in for a talk or just to sit.Much of the free time of a man and his wife will 19 be passed at that hearth.Juststaying in is still one of the most common leisure-time 20A.happensB.professionsC.senseneverthelessE.fashionedFdistanceG.immediate H.usuallyoccupations J.preservedK.imitateprovideM.thereforeNreserved0.contributeUnit TwoPassage 2Flying over a desert area in an airplane,two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes.After an hour's 11one of the scientists wrote in his book,"Look here for 12 metal."Scientists in another airplane,flying over a mountainregion,sent a 13 to other scientists on the ground,"Gold possible."Walking across hilly ground,four scientists reported,"This ground should be searched for metals."From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio oneword,"Uranium.None of the scientists had X-ray eyes:they had no 14 powers for looking down below the earth's surface.They were 15putting to use one of the newest methods of 16 minerals in the ground-using trees and plants as 17 thatcertain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees andplants are growing.This newest method of searching for minerals is 18 on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may19the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface.At Watson Bar Creek,a brook six thousand feet high in the mountains of British Columbia,Canada,a mineral search groupgathered bags of tree seeds.Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees.Roots were dug and put into boxes.Eachbag and box was 20 marked.In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were bumed to ashes and tested.Eachsmall part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it.A.signsB.sufficientlyC.locatingD.affectE.merelymagicG.hintsH.carefullyI.findingJ.messageK.flightL.probableM.revealingbasedO.informationUnit ThreePassage 2America's most famous woman is the Goddess of Liberty,i.e.the Statue of Liberty.It was first thought ofin 1865 by Edouard de Laboulaye and designed by another Frenchman,Frederic Bartoldi.They wanted to11 liberty and friendship.It was hoped that the monument would be completed by 1876 when America 12 its centennial.Fund raising and the 13 ofthe statue in France went slowly.It was 1885 when the 214 crates containing the statue reached New York.Americans were initially 14 for they had not raised the money to pay for the erection of the base.Fundraising by popular subscription was behind 15.One fund raising method used was to have popular Americans writeletters which were then sold in public.The base and statue,16272 feet tall,were completed in 1886.From a 17standpoint,the statue is amarvel.The inner structure was designed by the French engineer,Alexandre Eiffel.His design for the stressed copper skinof the statue anticipated many of the 18utilized in modern aircraft.After a century,the monument began to show signs of getting worse in 19Just as Frenchmen had created the Statue,so it was with restoration.AFrenchman notedthe decay andFrench andAmerican craftsmenand contributionsbrought about the renewal of the Statue in time for its centennial.Liberty is still20in France and the UnitedStates.A.completelyB.measuresC.populartogetherE.honorFmanufacture G.scheduleH.rewardI.celebratedJ.principlesK.embarrassed L.technicalM.voluntaryconditions0.discouragedUnit FourPassage 2Sophy Brent came to visit me nearly every day.She made me feel uneasy most of the time.She smoked 11 and never usedan ashtray.She followed me into the kitchen while I made tea or coffee or supper and 12 herself to the children's orangejuice.She made a great hit with my two-year-old daughter Flora,who would 13 about her for hours and refer to herlovingly as "sofa",and she was always talking about my husband and asking me where he was.I could not decide why she chose my 14,although I realized that nobody else paid her very much attention.Her situationwas very difficult in that she was 15 out of drama school and only nineteen,but being 16 to play a leading part in acompany of fairly 17 and experienced actors.They would not have liked her much even if she had been good,and as,fromall accounts,she was not good so they took every 18 to run her down.I think she thought that I was the only person aroundwho was both unconnected with the theatre and tolerably 19.To associate with me was not,at any rate,to step down thescale.And for my part,although I felt troubled by her I did not dislike her.There was something genuinely outstanding inher personality,and she had such physical 20 that with me she could get away with anything.She was nice to have around,like flowers or a bowl of fruit.A.helpedB.smartconstantlyD.treatedE.requiredF.supremeG.hangH.charmI.continuallyJ.companyK.opportunityL.distinguishedM.straightN.partnerdisappointedUnit FivePassage 2Many people often enjoy eating out either before or after a visit to the theatre.However,most of us would rather keep thetwo 11 separate.One man who thinks that they can be successfully combined has not only expressed his ideas in a recentbook,but also set up an establishment where the theory is put very 12 into practice.The man is Paul Thomton,and theplace is the Hollics,an old farmhouse.Whenever I visit a new restaurant,I feel the same excitement that keen theatre-goers must experience on opening night.Ihad this feeling last Friday evening at dusk,as my wife and I were taking a walk in the beautiful gardens of the restaurant13 after we had arrived.Dinner was as excellent as we had been 14.There is no menu,for Mr.Thornton creates his mealsrather as a director produces a play.Nevertheless,the various combinations of 15 at each course are always 16 as if theywere done by magic.He and his team of highly skilled helpers serve,cut and cook the food,moving about the "stage"asconfidently as 17 actors.The meal is as different from what one finds in ordinary restaurants as a 18 performance ofAMidsummer Night's Dream would be from a second-rate television production.May I offer a few words of advice in case you are thinking of paying him a visit.Try not to arrive just after noon,as Mr.Thornton does not serve a normal lunch.His "brunch"which19the best20of a traditionalEnglish breakfast,is served around eleven o'clock and is so plentiful that lunch is unnecessary.A.featuresB.shortlyC.potentialD.definitelyE.perfectF.promotedH.professionalI.charactersJ.promisedK.choicesL.includes M.pleasuresN.vigorouslysubstitutionsUnit SixPassage 2Student expeditions do a great deal of good work on the Arctic islands but from time to time cause trouble in the huts,probably because students are not familiar with the 11 of the little wooden huts dotted all over the islands of the Spizbergengroup.Each hut 12 has an inner and an outer door,shutters over the windows,a store of wood 13 up outside,dry chopped woodinside,utensils and cutlery,and above all,a small store of food.All these things must be completely in14whenever the hut is left.It makes no 15 if it is only the middle of July.That 16 hut may not be visited again before the winter.A door left open canlead either to snow filling up the hut to the ceiling,or 17 still,wind blowing the roof off.Unfastened shutters leave thewindows an easy prey for polar bears 18 for food and the result is again snow in the hut.The ready-chopped wood is alsovery important.A traveler visiting the hut in the middle of the dark time and perhaps in bad weather,his feet,hands and face bitten by thefrost,will have his difficulties doubled if the wood he left has been used up by others and he had nothing with which to19a fire.Ten or more years ago there were enough hunters to look after most of the huts,but now many buildings have becomeuseless because there is no one to repair them and because of20A.worseB.C.laidD.lightE.generallyF.orderG.particularH.conventionscarelessness J.differenceK.builtL.fashionsM.searchingN.ordinarily0.resultUnit SevenPassage 2Most of us trade money for entertainment.Movies,concerts and shows are enjoyable but 11 .If you think that you can'thave a good time without spending a lot of money,read on.A little resourcefulness and a few minutes ofnewspaper-scanning should give you some pleasant surprises.People may be the most interesting show in a large city.12 through busy streets and see what everybody else is doing.Youwill probably see people from all over the world;you will 13 see people of every age,size,and shape,and you'll get a freefashion show,too.Window-shopping is also a 14 sport if the stores are closed.Check the listings in your neighborhood paper.Local colleges or schools often 15 the public to hear an interesting speakeror a good 16.The film or concert series at the local public library probably won't cost you a penny.Be sure to checkcommercial advertisements too.A flea market can provide hours of pleasant looking round.Perhaps you can find a freecooking or crafts 17 in a department store.Plan ahead for some activities.It is always more pleasant not to have people in front of you in a museum or at a zoo.Youmay save some money,too,since these places often 18 aside one or two free 19 days at slow times during the week.Makesure that you are including the indispensable20that people travel miles to see.If you feel like taking aninteresting walk,find a free walking tour,or plan one yourself.A.expensive B.WonderC.debateD.admissionE.setF.WanderG.safeH.additionvaluabledisputeK.welcomeL.confidentlyM.sightsNdemonstrationO.certainlyUnit EightPassage 2When a person feels low,blue,or down in the clumps,it usually means he has been hurt,disappointed,or saddened bysomething that causes a confused and listless feeling.There is 11 a type of music called "the blue",a low,mournful,sadsound to 12 these universal human feelings.Depression is another name for this mood.Feeling depressed is a normal and natural 13 to experiences of loss,failure,and undeserved bad luck.Indeed,it has been pointed out that without depression,we would 14 much of the world's greattragic literature,music,and art.In some cases,however,depression becomes something more than just 15 feelings of blues or letdown.A largenumber of people suffer from what psychiatrists call "depressive illness."Depressive illness is more 16 and lasts longerthan common listless feelings.Sometimes a serious 17 of depression can begin with the loss of a loved one or a change ofjob.Many times,in very18 cases,there doesn't seem to be any circumstance serious enough to have caused the depression.Some psychiatrists suggest that the key feature in depression is change.The person becomes different from the waybefore the onset of his depression.He may even become the opposite of his usual self.There are many examples:thebusinessman who becomes a wanderer,the mother who wants to 19 her children and herself.Instead of seeking satisfactionand pleasure,the depressed person20it.A.everB.escapeC.intenseD.responseE.avoidsF.evenG.expressH.realizationI.severeJ.lessenK.denseL.periodM.harmN.lackUnit NineA growing world population and the discoveries of science may 11 this pattem of distribution in the future.As men slowlyleam to master diseases,control floods,prevent famines,and stop wars,fewer people die every year,and in 12 thepopulation of the world is 13 increasing.In 1925 there were about 2,000 million people in the world;by the end of thecentury there may well be over 4,000 million.When numbers rise the 14 mouths must be fed.New lands must be I bought under cultivation,or land already farmed madeto 15 larger crops.In some areas the accessible land is largely so intensively 16 that it will be difficult to make it providemore food.In some areas the population is so dense that the land is parceled out in units too 17 to allow for muchimprovement in farming methods.Were a larger part of this farming population drawn off into industrial occupations,theland might be farmed much more productively by modem methods.There is now a race for science,technology,and industry to keep the18 of food rising faster than the number ofpeople to be fed.New strains of crops are being developed which will thrive in 19climates;irrigation anddry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough,dams hold back the waters of great rivers to20waterfor the fields in all seasons and to provide electric power for newindustries;industrialchemistryprovidesfertilizersto suit particular soils;aero planes spray crops to destroy insects and many plantdiseases.A.ensureB.violentlyC.alterD.harmfulcultivatedF.uniqueG.transplantedH.yieldconsequenceJ.outputK.extraL.steadily M.tinyunfavorableO.produceUnit TenPassage 2In the United States,it is not 11 to telephone someone very early in the morning.If you telephone him early in the day,while he is shaving or having breakfast,the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediateattention.The same meaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11:00 p.m..If someone receives a call duringsleeping hours,he 12 it's a matter of life and death.The time chosen for the call 13 its importance.In 14 life,time plays a very important part.In the U.S.A.,guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the 15 to adinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date.But it is not true in all countries.In other areas of theworld,it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in 16 because plans which are made for a date morethan a week away tend to be forgotten.The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world.Thus,misunderstandings17 between people from cultures that treat time differently.Promptness is valued 18 in American life,for example.If people are not prompt,they may be regarded as impolite or notfully responsible.In the U.S.no one would think of keeping a business 19 waiting for an hour,it would be too impolite.Aperson who is 5 minutes late is20to make a shortapology.If he is less than5minuteslate,he willsay a few words of explanation,thoughperhaps he will not complete the sentence.A.highlyengagementC.customaryD.socialE.informinvitationG.advanceH.absenceheavilyJassociateK.expectedL.assumesM.habitualNansecommunicatesUnit ElevenPassage 2Personality is,to a large extent,inherent-A-type parents,usually bring about A-type children.But the environment mustalso have a 11 effect,wince if competition is important to the parents it is likely to become a major 12 in the lives of theirchildren.One place where children soak up A characteristics is school,which is,by its very nature,a highly competitive institution.Too many schools 13 the "win at all costs"moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements.Thecurrent 14 for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system,in whichcompetitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows.Being 15 keen to win can have dangerousconsequences:remember that Pheidippides,the first marathon runner,dropped dead seconds after saying:"cheers,weconquer!"By far the worst form of competition in schools is the extreme 16 on examinations.It is a rare school that allows pupils to17 on those things they do well.The merits of competition by examination are somewhat 18,but competition in the certainknowledge of failure is positively harmful.Obviously,it is neither19nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B's.The world needs types,andschools have an important duty to try to 20a child's personality to his possible future employment.It is topmanagement.A.enoughB.fitC.emphasisD.practicalE.innumerable F.concentrateG.adoptH.questionableI.profoundJ.factorK.toosubstanceM.passionN.emotionO.fixUNIT 12Passage 2As the 11 of life continues to increase,we are fast losing the art of relaxation.Once you are in habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down.But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it.In fact,it is not the bad thing it is often 12 to be.Acertain amount of stress is 13 to provide motivation and give purpose to life.It is only when the stress gets out of controlthat it can lead to poor 14 and ill health.The amount of stress a person can 15 depends very much on the individual.Some people are not afraid of stress,and suchcharacters are 16 prime material for managerial responsibilities.Others lose heart at the first signs of 17 difficulties.Whenexposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make choice between "fight"or"flight"and in more primitive days the choices made the difference between life or death.The crises we meet today areunlikely to be so 18,but however little the stress,it involves the same response.It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued 19 to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heartdisease have established links with stress.Since we cannot 20 stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if wecould),we need to find ways to deal with it.A.cancelB.paceC.extremeD.automaticallyE.removeF.vitalG.performance H.supposedrateJ.exposureK.achievement L.unusualM obviouslyN withstandO harshUnit ThirteenPassage 2What is your favorite color?Do you like yellow,orange,red?If you do,you must be an optimist,a leader,an active personwho 11 life,people and excitement.Do you prefer greys and blues?Then you are probably quiet,shy,and you would ratherfollow than lead.You 12 to be a pessimist.At least,this is what psychologists tell us,and they should know,because theyhave been seriously studying the meaning of color preference,as well as the effect that colors have on human beings.Theytell us,among other 13,that we do not choose our favorite color as we grow up-we are bom with our preference.If youhappen to love brown,you did so,as soon as you opened your eyes,or at least as soon as you could see clearly.Colors do 14 our moods-there is no doubt about it.A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and morerelaxed than a dark green one;and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day.On the other hand,blackis 15.A black bridge over the Thames River,near London,used to be the 16 of more suicides than any other bridge in thearea-until it was repainted green.The number of suicide attempts immediately fell 17;perhaps it would have fallen evenmore if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.Light and18colors make people not only happier but more active.It isan19fact that factory workers work better,harder,and have fewer20 when their machines are paintedorange rather than black or grey.A.brightB.sceneC.whollyD.favorE.factsF.depressingG.accidentsH.interfereI.establishedJ.incidentsK.disgustingL.sharplyM.enjoysN.tendinfluenceUnit Fourteen